In this episode, Leah Coplon talks about her path to becoming an abortion care provider, how abortion fits into the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care, what it’s really like in the clinic, and what it means to connect with other independent abortion care providers.

This episode was made in collaboration with Abortion Care Network (ACN) and was recorded at their 2019 annual conference. ACN is a nonprofit membership organization for independent abortion clinics. Independent clinics — like Maine Family Planning, where Leah Coplon works — provide the majority of abortion care in the U.S. ACN provides the staff of those clinics with support, training, and resources.

Leah Coplon MPH, RN is the Program Director at Maine Family Planning, overseeing abortion care and strategizing for innovative ways of reaching rural patients to increase access to abortion, contraception, and transgender health services. Leah worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing at the University of New England. She has practiced full-scope midwifery, worked as a labor and delivery nurse, and has been in the field of reproductive health for over 25 years. Leah received a BA in sociology/anthropology from Carleton College and her BSN from the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, she holds a Master of Science from Philadelphia University and a Master of Public Health from the University of New England and is board certified as a Nurse Midwife with the American College of Nurse Midwives.

Abortion Diary Entry 166: Dr. Nikia Grayson In this episode, Dr. Nikia Grayson talks about her path to becoming a nurse-midwife, commitment to full spectrum reproductive heath care, and the importance of working in and […]

Abortion Diary Entry 165: C.G.C., 20 (Manchester, England 2012)* C.G.C. shares her story of traveling from Galway, Ireland to Manchester, England for an abortion when she was 16 years old. Ireland has one of the […]

Abortion Diary Entry 160: Lisa, 48 (Michigan, 1986) Lisa shares her story of seeking an abortion as a freshman in college and also talks about her birth experiences in her thirties. She also discusses her […]

Abortion Diary Entry 159: Marisol, 32 (Dhaka, Bangladesh 2011) Marisol shares her experience of having an abortion with the help of Women on Web while she was working in Bangladesh. (Published on August 1, 2017 […]

Abortion Diary Entry 158: Jackie, 37 (Cincinnati, OH 2004) Jackie shares her story of traveling to Cincinnati, OH from Louisville, KY for an abortion, and talks about her experience working in public health in New […]

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